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BGM Executive Committee September 11-13, 2014 Seattle, WA MINUTES
Meeting Site:
Seattle Airport Marriott 3201 South 176th Seattle, WA 98188 206-241-2000
Housing:
Seattle Airport Marriott
Officers:
Don Ng, President Judy Fackenthal, Vice President/BGM Chaplain Paul Higgins, Budget Review Officer Ruth Clark, Past President A. Roy Medley, General Secretary
Committee:
Camille Brown, Cleveland Wesley Roberts, Massachusetts Tasha Wilson, Rochester/Genesee
Parliamentarian:
Dennis Johnson
Staff:
Alan Musoke, Treasurer and CFO Cathy Brubaker, Recorder
Thursday, September 11, 2014, 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Spokane Boardroom (Tasha Wilson, who was not able to be present at this meeting, was connected by Skype from 2:00pm4:00pm.) BGM EC 209
WELCOME/CALL TO ORDER
Following lunch together in the Spokane Boardroom, ABC President Don Ng called the meeting of the BGM Executive Committee to order. Each person was asked to share something which has defined them and who they are within the last three months. Following this time of sharing an orientation to the agenda was provided.
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BGM EC 210
WORSHIP/LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST
Judy Fackenthal, ABC Vice President and BGM Chaplain, lit the Christ Candle as a sign of God’s presence and the Executive Committee’s commitment to Worshipful Work. She led in worship through song and scripture, and during worship invited each person to write their name on a slip of paper as a commitment to be fully present in prayer for one another, as each person drew another’s name, during these meetings.
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RHYTHMS OF THE SPIRIT/TRANSFORMED BY THE SPIRIT
Rhythms of the Spirit Judy Fackenthal reported that she and General Secretary Roy Medley were present at the July 28-August 1, 2014 Rhythms of the Spirit Conference held at the Green Lake Conference Center, Green Lake, WI. Rhythms of the Spirit conferences focus on nurturing a contemplative life by providing time to develop solitude and silence for spiritual direction, being transformed into what God would have us to be, and on reconnecting participants to our history. Rhythms of the Spirit also builds community, which is part of the Transformed by the Spirit initiative. Judy and Roy expressed how very essential this spiritual discipline is to ABC life, and emphasized the importance of finding ways that will enable ABC to keep Rhythms of the Spirit moving forward. It was reported that Bridget Holmstrom, ABCUSA’s Assistant Director of Communications/Webmaster, participated in the July 26-August 4 Taize Youth Trip in France and that we will be soon connecting with ABC-related college campus chaplains and seminary deans about whether there might be student participation from these organizations in a future Taize youth trip. There will also be more intentional sharing of information about Taize through Baptist resources. Transformed by the Spirit Roy reported that Transformed by the Spirit is entering into Phase 2. Phase 1 included regions connecting with one another around joint concerns and issues; Phase 2 facilitates the sharing of joint learnings. A series of adaptive, missional learning communities among congregations are being formed in 5-6 regions as a beta group with regional leadership at the center. The regions and their congregations will be networked together to become learning communities, sharing those learnings with one another. The Journey Team is also working to combine two manuals, the Adaptive Challenge Teams (ACT) manual and the Adaptive Learning Teams (ALT) manual, into a new “Journey Manual.” Roy shared with the Executive Committee a letter from the Episcopal church (which is moving through a very rough period of time and needing to sell their facilities) to their congregations, noting that all the issues raised in this letter are issues that Transformed by the Spirit has been addressing. He reported that the Asian Caucus and four ABC Regions used the Transformed by the Spirit model for their annual meetings, and that it is encouraging to see ABC find a path where we can move forward in learning together. Roy expressed confidence in knowing that the Spirit really was leading ABC into the Transformed by the Spirit path and helping to build new models and to expand on others already in place. December 2014 will be a milestone, as ABC moves into a new Transformed by the Spirit process. Since Alan Roxburgh ends his consultancy with ABC in June 2015, Jeff Woods has begun co-leading with Alan. Jeff’s position will be shifting, as he moves from being Associate General Secretary for Regional Ministries
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to being Associate General Secretary for Congregations & Regions. Roy said that he trusts that God will take the Transformed by the Spirit process and continue to use it in ABC life.
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CHILD CARE POLICY
Although the General Board voted new bylaws in 2009, all current ABC policies at that time were carried over. One of these, the Child Care Policy (last voted upon in 2000), came to the Executive Committee at this meeting for review. This document was transmitted to the Executive Committee prior to the meeting. To begin the discussion, President Ng asked Tasha Wilson, who has a young child and is expecting a second, if she would share her views on the current policy and recommendations for change. Conversation then focused on ABC’s value of diversity of age brackets and how this policy might address special needs; on flexibility of bringing a childcare provider to the meetings vs. having an on-site provider; on the need for information in advance of meetings in order to register and plan travel; on childcare for smaller meetings vs. Biennial meetings; and on policies held by other boards. Following discussion, a motion was made by Tasha Wilson, seconded by Wesley Roberts and it was VOTED:
That ABC president Don Ng appoint a committee of young adults (Paul Higgins, Tasha Wilson, Richard Hanson and Ashley Whitaker) to draft a revision of the Child Care Policy for presentation at the November BGM meeting.
The current policy will be sent to BGM directors, noting that this is the policy currently in effect, that the Executive Committee is working to revise the policy, and that directors who wish to apply for assistance should contact Annie Marcucci, Director of Travel and Conference Planning. A room reservation form will be subsequently posted on the ABCUSA registration website.
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ACT ON UM
The Adaptive Challenge Team on United Mission (ACT on UM) was formed to identify the adaptive challenges facing UM funding, to explore the elements which have impacted the decline of UM, and the long history of underlying diversity of voices that have come into conversation and have made various impacts. The team had its initial meeting last April with several conference calls following. Two additional calls are scheduled. Judy Fackenthal, a member of ACT on UM, noted that the team quickly realized that this process is not just about UM but about who we are as a denomination, as a family, and addressed the work with much passion and concern. The Executive Committee reviewed 2 pages of a document (“Summary Notes and Outcomes”) that resulted from the January 6, 2014 meeting of ABCUSA officers in Orlando and which provided a brief assessment of challenges and general issues that UM presents. Judy Fackenthal presented to the Executive Committee on behalf of the ACT on UM an outline of a proposed presentation to be used for its report to the Board of General Ministries in November and a request for a substantial amount of time on the agenda on Thursday evening and Friday morning, with the full team being present. The Executive Committee engaged in conversation regarding the proposed process, which included a draft of two adaptive challenge statements and a recommendation for a proposed BGM action. Feedback was shared regarding wording, intent, and correlation of adaptive challenge statements with proposed action recommendations. Judy reminded the Executive Committee that the team was tasked with providing a framework, not the details of the plan.
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Concern was shared that BGM continue to intentionally consider how its work affects ABC churches and partners, and that a process to test/evaluate is put in place. President Ng shared his hope for BGM, to be known as a board that wrestles with difficult/ongoing/chronic issues. Judy led in prayer for Tasha Wilson prior to her disconnecting from the meeting through Skype, as she and her husband anticipate the arrival of their newborn son.
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Ruth Clark, seconded by Camille Brown and it was VOTED:
BGM EC 215
To approve the June 12-13, 2014 BGM Executive Committee minutes (meeting held in Green Lake, WI), with one correction.
REPORT OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY
General Secretary Roy Medley shared an oral and written report with the Executive Committee. His written report, which is attached to the minutes filed in the General Secretary’s office, included information regarding an upcoming trip in February 2015 with a delegation to Burma, prior to their November 2015 elections; the July 7-11, 2014 BWA General Assembly in Izmir, Turkey (where he was honored to have been chosen as one of 5 speakers and where important connections were made with several international groups); the July 21-24 World Mission Conference (and IM’s 200th Anniversary Celebration) in Green Lake and key opportunities for extended conversations with ABC missionaries, some of those conversations resulting in the August 29 Prayer Vigil at the Mexican/US border as a result of 50,000 unaccompanied minors fleeing violence in Latin America; meeting with other religious leaders for conversation with an Egyptian delegation in DC on Oct. 20-22; changes in leadership with new presidents at Palmer Theological Seminary, Andover Newton Theological School and International Baptist Theological Seminary and changes in leadership of four African American Baptist denominations; on NCC searches for staff positions in the areas of communication and justice and the NCC’s decision to move their November 2015 meeting to Ferguson, MO making it a point to discuss issues of race and policing. The General Secretary also expressed appreciation to Alan Musoke, Associate General Secretary for Finance/CFO/Treasurer, for his work with consultants to orchestrate ABCUSA’s recent staff move from Tower C to Tower B at the Mission Center.
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ABC PRESIDENT’S REPORT
ABC President Don Ng submitted a written report to the Executive Committee prior to this meeting and then gave an oral report regarding his work on behalf of ABC since June 2014. At the July 7-11 BWA General Assembly in Izmir, Turkey several significant connections were made with the Baptist global family. He reported the surprise of Baptists from NE India, Myanmar and Malaysia that he as an Asian American serves as ABC president and the bonding with these groups, some of whom he met again at the July World Mission Conference, where conversations that resulted continued. President Ng was also privileged to be part of the August 29 Prayer Vigil at the U.S./Mexican border. He was speaker for two churches celebrating 100th anniversaries: Grace Baptist Church of San Jose and Gardena Valley Baptist Church of Gardena, CA.
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This Fall he will be in four regions (ABC of New Jersey, ABC of the Great Rivers Region, Evergreen Baptist Association of ABC and Philadelphia Baptist Association) to speak on ABC’s behalf. He will be meeting with Rev. Robin Lunn, Executive Director of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, on September 18, at a Development Advisory Team (DAT) Meeting in Philadelphia on September 24, speaking at ABCUSA Staff Worship the morning of September 25 and hosting an all-ABC staff lunch gathering later that day. While at the Mission Center he will meet with Annie Marcucci and Gary LaNette regarding Biennial plans/exhibits. As chair of the General Secretary’s Search committee, he reported that the committee is currently receiving nominations and applications. The Search Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 11-12, prior to the BGM meetings. President Ng also shared appreciation for staff who help make these meetings possible. His full written report is attached to the minutes filed in the General Secretary’s office.
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OTHER DISCUSSION
Compensation Committee Historically, under the old bylaws, the Compensation Committee was populated by the presidents of the four national organizations, but under the new bylaws, Standing Rule 11.8.1, the Executive Committee serves as the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee will need to meet in November since interviews for the position of General Secretary will take place early in 2015. 11.8.1 Membership. There shall be a Human Resources/Compensation Committee (“HR/Comp Committee”) of the Board, which shall consist of the individuals serving as members of the Executive Committee pursuant to Article XI, Section 3 of the Bylaws (other than the General Secretary who shall not be a member of the HR/Comp Committee). 11.8.2 Functions. The HR/Comp Committee shall perform such responsibilities as are delegated to it by the Board, including monitoring human resource matters for ABCUSA, coordinating and monitoring the affirmative action efforts of ABCUSA, evaluating the General Secretary’s performance, and approving compensation for the General Secretary. Transitions Noting that the transition to a new General Secretary is also a transition for the ABCUSA Leadership Team, General Secretary Medley reported that Sherry Read, Executive Coach and Strategic Human Resource Consultant, met with the Leadership Team as part of their September 8 retreat as a step in addressing that transition. ABCUSA Development Office In response to a request for an update on the work of ABCUSA’s Development Office, General Secretary Medley noted that ABCUSA is the last organization to begin work in development and that many responses to our ask for funds reflect that donors have already given to the other national organizations. It is hard and tedious work. He reported that Ken Marsenburg, Director of Development, will be soon approaching two individuals who have given in the past and are capable of providing an additional donation. He and Ken also have several common dates held on their calendars for upcoming donor calls in various areas of the country.
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BGM EC 218
RECESS FOR DINNER MEETING
At 6:00 p.m., the Executive Committee enjoyed dinner and fellowship together in the Mt. Rainier Room of the Marriott with invited guest Dr. Marcia Patton, Executive Minister of Evergreen Baptist Association of ABC. Following dinner, some members of the Executive Committee joined Dr. Patton for a brief tour of Seattle, which included a visit to four local ABC churches along the way. Friday, September 12, 2014, 9:00 a.m. –5:30 p.m.; Spokane Boardroom BGM EC 219
CALL TO ORDER WORSHIP/LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
President Ng reconvened the meeting of the Executive Committee. Chaplain Fackenthal led in worship, during which she invited the Executive Committee to participate by writing and sharing an acrostic prayer. Following worship, announcements were shared, including the naming of Past President Ruth Clark as the person who will coordinate retirement events to be held for General Secretary Roy Medley during the Biennial Mission Summit; and an announcement of the birth of Andrew Walton, born to Tasha Wilson and her husband this morning at 9:40 a.m.
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FINANCIAL REPORT
YTD Financials Through July 2014
Paul Higgins reported that overall the year-to-date financials show a net loss of $112,000. Net revenue compared to last year is up $32,000. Expenses are slightly higher, by $3,000 this year as compared to last year. Although Women in Ministry had a net loss of $15,000, it is an improvement over last year. Total UM is down 8% from the previous year. WMO, RMMO, and Region Offerings were up from the previous year with WMO showing the largest increase at 28%.
Time was allotted for questions and discussion. During this time questions of concern related to IM’s withdrawal from the American Baptist Computer Center and how ABCC will proceed in 2015 were addressed. It was also reported that ABCUSA will be combining its group health insurance with IM’s due to the savings realized through a larger group of employees. Coverage through Aetna will begin as of October 1. Aetna, unlike our current Keystone Blue plan, has national service that does not require separate plans for those residing in other states (as do some ABCUSA employees). The full financial report was transmitted to the Executive Committee prior to the meeting for review and is attached to the minutes filed in the General Secretary’s office.
Investment Policy Budget Review Officer Paul Higgins reported that the BGM Finance Committee is in the process of updating ABCUSA’s Investment Policy, which was last updated in 1997. Paul reviewed the policy with the Executive Committee for its feedback on key issues to inform the Committee’s work. He noted that money currently invested with ABHMS through the Common Investment Fund offers one product; money currently invested
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with the American Baptist Foundation offers two products. Neither investment, however, provides ABCUSA with a voice regarding investment products. ABCUSA has an observer on the ABHMS board and another on the ABF boards, but neither are voting members. The Executive Committee agreed that ABCUSA needs a clearer, more specific investment policy, one which provides flexibility, maintains sophistication of management; is consistent with/reflective of our own commitments and statements, provides a sense of identity, and presents a more glossy end-of-the-year report to heighten visibility to what ABCUSA has invested. Paul distributed a document for comparing “Investing with an ABC partner organization” and “Investing on our own (with a 3rd party manager)—pros and cons.” The Executive Committee provided feedback and continued conversations regarding how ABCUSA’s investment policy might be set up and whether an investment group might be established in such a way that ABCUSA’s focus in mission and ministry remains its central mission. Paul also reminded the group that it might choose to invest just a percentage of its funds with ABHMS and to adopt their policies. The Finance Committee will report back to the Executive Committee on its work for continued discussion. UM Designations At its June 2014 meeting the Board of General Ministries approved the adoption of the Common Budget Covenant Amendment, eliminating Designated Giving as a UM category. This change will not become effective until all Covenanting Partners have had the opportunity to ratify this decision and a new mission giving form has been created that clearly outlines how monies given can be directed for their intended use. The deadline for responses from regions is December 1, 2014. Currently 26 signed forms have been received (all “yes” votes). Guidelines for Caucus Funding At its meeting in March 2014, the Executive Committee approved 2014 funding for American Baptist Caucuses and President Ng notified caucus chairs that newly-instituted allocation guidelines are being written. BGM director Charity Matic offered to help prepare a draft of the Guidelines for Caucus Funding form. She has submitted the draft to Paul Higgins and Alan Musoke for review. This will come to the table at the November meeting for approval. Building Issues Alan Musoke, Associate General Secretary for Finance/CFO/Treasurer, reported that the Board of Managers for 588 Associates has engaged Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, as of September 1, to provide professional property management services for the Mission Center building. As a result ABCUSA has lost three (two long-term) employees who will now transition as employees of the management service, although all will continue in their current responsibilities. Alan also shared an update on the appeal of 588 Associates regarding the change by the township in its exempt status. Normally ABC would pay a tax, a percentage on the funds received through renting portions of the building but with the new ruling, 588 Associates is expected to pay $250,000 in additional taxes. The Upper Merion Board of Education met but passed the decision on to the School Counsel to authorize the vote. 588 Associates continues to pay taxes under protest as it awaits final word. Should this be settled in its favor, a refund will be received.
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This situation, along with losing Lorel as a tenant and the future loss of Palmer as a tenant, have added more pressure to the work of the 588 Real Estate Council as they decide whether this is the time to remarket the building.
BGM EC 221
UNUSED AIRLINE TICKETS
The Executive Committee has been asked by the Office of Travel and Conference Planning to provide a policy on unused airline tickets for BGM meetings. Following discussion it was by consensus AGREED:
That prior to the November 2014 meeting, President Ng will write a letter to directors anticipating the upcoming meeting and briefly presenting items to be considered on the BGM agenda, including a note about attendance and the cost incurred for canceling airline tickets. If an airline ticket is purchased, but needs to be cancelled, the Executive Committee authorizes the Office of Travel and Conference Planning (OTCP) to provide an option for the director (or their church/school, if applicable) to purchase the ticket, with OTCP using its best judgment to negotiate an agreement that benefits both parties.
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WORLD RELIEF POLICY
Shirley Fair, chair of the World Relief Committee, and Lisa Rothenberger, staff to the committee, forwarded to the Executive Committee a draft of the proposed update of the World Relief Policy Manual. The draft was presented for redaction at this meeting. The Executive Committee carefully reviewed the Policy Manual, noting areas of concern, suggesting wording for clarification and corrections needed. General Secretary Roy Medley will provide written documentation of the Executive Committee’s review to Shirley and Lisa. A final draft will be presented to BGM at its meeting in November. Following the review of the Policy Manual, General Secretary Roy Medley reported on an August 2014 letter written by the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Churches of Lebanon and Syria to Protestant and evangelical churches and organizations across the world. The letter reported deep concern regarding the human suffering and political difficulties brothers and sisters in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon are facing, incidents of violence that innocent civilians and entire communities, especially Christians, are facing. The Council called for, among other things, an active presence among churches and organizations to raise awareness, to act to stop forced displacement of individuals and whole communities and to work for long-term strategies for maintaining peaceful communal living. Following discussion, a motion was made by Wesley Roberts, seconded by Ruth Clark and it was VOTED:
In response to the letter ABC received from the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Churches of Lebanon and Syria regarding the crises for Christians in many Muslim majority countries, that we consider relief and refugee resettlement efforts a priority for our denomination.
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BGM EC 223
2015 BIENNIAL MISSION SUMMIT
The Mission Summit Planning Team will be meeting in Overland Park on October 27-28. A new attraction this Biennial will be the addition of a Young Preaching Pavilion. President Ng will be meeting with staff at the Mission Center this month and looks forward to sharing some new and exciting ideas for the Exhibit Hall. Rev. Dr. Amy Butler, new pastor at Riverside, has been invited to address the Biennial gathering on Friday evening, June 26, and we await her response. General Secretary Roy Medley will bring the Saturday evening address to Biennial delegates, with a reception in his honor that evening as the ABC family celebrates his 14 years of service as this denomination’s General Secretary. The Executive Committee discussed the importance of live streaming for those who are not able to attend the Biennial, the challenges and benefits related to multi-region hosting, the benefits that early church registration has brought for the 2015 Biennial, and the importance of encouraging BGM directors to remain after the conclusion of their meetings to participate in the Biennial. It was also noted that the Biennial video has been sent to ABC churches and is available on the ABCUSA website for download.
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JUNE 2015 JOINT MEETING OF BOARDS
The Joint Meeting of ABCUSA, ABWM, ABHMS, IM and MMBB will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. It was suggested that the board meetings end on Wednesday evening to prevent a conflict for those attending the Theologians Conference. It was also suggested that the joint meeting begin with dinner and proceed into the evening, with no BGM meeting on Thursday. Presidents and Vice Presidents of the 5 organizations and the NEC will be meeting together on January 8 to plan this family event.
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NOVEMBER 2014 BGM MEETING
The Executive Committee reviewed a draft of the November 2014 BGM schedule and made several changes. The updated schedule will be shared, immediately following this meeting, with Annie Marcucci, Director of the Office of Travel & Conference Planning, to facilitate any adjustments that may need to occur regarding the logistics.
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NAGALAND
When in Izmir for the BWA General Assembly, President Ng reported that he was engaged in conversation related to a proposed plan, a combined vision of some 7000 Baptist churches in NE India, to establish a Christian university (Northeast Christian University) in Nagaland. The Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India includes churches in a number of states; Nagaland is more developed and therefore, in the view of the Council, the best place to locate the new university. This proposed institution would be established to provide special attention to educationally underdeveloped communities, and marginalized groups—women, the physically challenged, and socially discriminated individuals. The goal is to raise $25 million to launch this project. The Council has already received undeveloped land from the government and has prepared a promotional video.
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President Ng noted that because some of those who initially engaged him in this conversation in Izmir were also at the World Mission Conference in Green Lake, conversation continued and drew in Dr. Jerry Cain (former president of Judson College who has traveled to NE India), 6-8 other individuals from Judson, John Sundquist and Ben Chan. The Executive Committee realizes that Myanmar Institute of Theology (Yangon) and Baptists in the Chin State in Burma have both begun to work on similar programs and that it would seem wise for some coordinated efforts to take place.
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ABC/LA – SAM CHETTI
A motion was made by Paul Higgins, seconded by Camille Brown and it was VOTED:
To send to Dr. Samuel Chetti, Executive Minister, and the Board of Directors of ABC/LA the following resolution:
Whereas churches in the United States in recent years have been experiencing seismic changes in denominational affiliations and loyalties and, Whereas one of the more significant shifting of regional bodies has occurred in the southern California area that created some churches in search of new regional connections, The Executive Committee of the ABC Board of General Ministries on September 12, 2014 resolved the following: We congratulate the ABC/LA Board of Directors for having a heart of welcome in creating the Samaritan Response Initiative which receives and holds any churches that wish to continue their American Baptist affiliation with ABC/LA. We Praise God for the ABC/LA in practicing Godly generosity by making available significant amounts of their resources to support these churches in transition. We Affirm the ABC/LA Board of Directors and all member churches in sacrificially giving time and energy to amend bylaws in order to usher in the new reality in the forming of the new region. We Celebrate with you on October 3-4 at this historic annual meeting when you affirm your Baptist roots of welcoming home all who believe in the “One Lord, One Faith, and One Hope” in Jesus Christ. We Welcome “The American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, Southwest and Hawaii” as one of the 33 ABC regional organizations to make up the American Baptist family! BGM EC 228
EXECUTIVE SESSION/RECESS
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The Board of General Ministries met in Executive Session. (If any actions are such that need to be recorded during this session, those minutes will be sealed in a confidential envelope and attached to the official copy of the minutes filed in the General Secretary’s office.) President Ng recessed the meeting of the Executive Committee for dinner. BGM EC 229
DINNER WITH GUESTS
At 6:00 p.m., the Executive Committee shared dinner and fellowship together at the 13 Coins Restaurant (18000 International Blvd., Sea-Tac, WA) with invited guests: Dr. Yosh Nakagawa, ABC Vice president (2002-2003) and his wife Sue, and Dr. Charles Z. Smith, ABC president (1976-1977) and his wife Elie. Saturday, September 13, 2014, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.; Spokane Boardroom
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RECONVENE/WORSHIP & LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
President Ng reconvened the meeting of the BGM Executive Committee. Chaplain Judy Fackenthal lit the Christ Candle. She led in worship, reminding all that the tides of the ocean are reminders of the rhythm of our lives; we need to invite the Holy Spirit to restore rhythm to our lives.
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ELECTION OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE
It was reported that BGM Director Eli Echevarria (ABC/CT), who served on the Nominating Committee, has resigned. The ABCUSA Standing Rule 14.2.1 state: There shall be an ABCUSA (National) Nominating Committee consisting of the ABCUSA President, the ABCUSA Immediate Past President, three persons appointed by the Regional Executive Ministers Council (“REMC”), the intercaucus president and six representatives from the Board of General Ministries (three clergy and three laity). Members of the Committee shall be elected or appointed, in accord with the above, during the year of each Biennial Meeting of Delegates for a term of two years commencing on January 1 next following the date of their election or appointment. A vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall be filled by the Board of General Ministries for the remainder of the term vacated. When the Nominating Committee is acting to submit a nominee for the position of General Secretary, one additional member selected by the National Boards of ABCUSA shall be added to the Committee for that specific nomination process. Upon motion by Ruth Clark and seconded by Judy Fackenthal, it was VOTED:
That the BGM Executive Committee recommend Beryl Hornberger as a member of the Nominating Committee (which includes her as a member of the General Secretary’s Search Committee) and that a BGM conference call be convened prior to
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November 12, 2014 to enable her to participate fully in the General Secretary’s Search Committee meeting that day. It was also by consensus AGREED:
That the BGM Executive Committee recommend Obed Arango for election to BGM as a General Director and as a member of the Nominating Committee.
President Ng will contact Obed to see to ask if he might agree to serve.
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FUTURE MEETING DATES
The Executive Committee by consensus AGREED:
That the March 11-14, 2015 meeting of the BGM Executive Committee will be held in the San Diego area to facilitate meeting with ABC missionaries from the Mexican/US border.
President Ng will communicate this decision to Sam Chetti, Executive Minister of ABC/LA. Travel should be scheduled for March 10. The meeting will begin the morning of Wednesday, March 11 and end with breakfast on Saturday, March 14. The Executive Committee by consensus also AGREED:
That the September 10-13, 2015 BGM Executive Committee meeting will be held at Charleston Baptist Temple, Charleston, West Virginia (Dennis Johnson’s church).
Travel should be scheduled for September 9. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on September 10 and end on Saturday, September 12, with breakfast and a morning meeting, depending on flights. No lunch will be served. Future Meeting Dates: November 2015 – venue tbd, possibly AZ or FL March 9-12, 2016 – with the venue in the South/NC, Charlotte June 22-25, 2016 – Green Lake Sept. 7-10, 2016 – venue tbd (travel on 7th) Nov. 9-12, 2016 – venue tbd (travel on 9th) June 30-July 2, 2017 –Portland (Mission Summit)
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ADJOURNMENT LUNCH WITH WASHINGTON BAPTIST CONVENTION
The Executive Committee expressed appreciation to President Don Ng for his leadership and to staff for their work on details for the meeting. Judy Fackenthal led in a closing prayer. President Ng adjourned the meeting.
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11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Following adjournment, and at the invitation of the Washington Baptist Convention (an organization that is under the ABCUSA 501(c)(3) umbrella and whose membership includes all American Baptist Churches in Washington and North Idaho), the Executive Committee enjoyed lunch and fellowship at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship (19300 108 SE, Renton, WA). The WBC was gathering for its Biennial Meeting. Transportation from the Marriott to the church was provided by New Beginnings Christian Fellowship. Next meeting of the BGM Executive Committee will be held on November 13-15, 2014 at the Crowne Plaza in Valley Forge, PA.
Submitted by
Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley General Secretary ARM/cb Documents attached BGM Proposed Agenda: September 11-13, 2014 BGM EC Roster Worship Programs BGM EC Minutes: June 12-13, 2014 General Board Child Care Policy (1218:6/00) & Child Care Reimbursement Form ACT on UM Summary Notes and Outcomes: Framing the Factors, pp. 2-4 ACT on UM Proposed Presentation Roster: Adaptive Challenge Team on United Mission Report of the General Secretary Report of the ABC President Financials YTD through July 31, 2014 Investing with an ABC Partner Organization/Investing with Third-Party Manager-Pros and Cons November 2015 BGM Meeting Schedule World Relief Committee Policy Manual (Draft) Medley Memo to Shirley Fair, Chair of the WR Committee, and Lisa Rothenberger, Staff to the WR Committee Letter from the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Churches of Lebanon and Syria: August 2014 Ng Letter to Dr. Sam Chetti and ABC/LA Board of Directors
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